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All Spain Ponferrada La Fábrica de Luz (Light factory-Energy Museum)

La Fábrica de Luz (Light factory-Energy Museum)

This former power station is now a museum dedicated to the region's coal-producing history.

Ponferrada, Spain

Added By
Luis Morato
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The museum.   Ene.Museo
Ljungström turbine.   Rubén Ojeda
Old locomotive which brought the coal.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Panoramic view inside the main building.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
The oldest power plant built in 1920.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
The oldest part built in 1920, currently is the restaurant of the museum.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
The old forge, close to the river   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
The boiler zone.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Wagon.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Outside view of the Energy Museum.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
View of the building situated close the new bridge over the Sil.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Panoramic view of the panel control and the cabine to provide shelter from the heat and noise generated in the turbine house provide.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Outside view of the oldest building of the power plant.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
The chimney.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Operating levers.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
A long corridor.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Detail in the Boiler house.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Inside view.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Conveyor belts.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Slipway to coal.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Control panel.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Boiler house.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Outside view of the buiding.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Turbine house.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
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About

This museum is located in an old power plant at the epicenter of an important coal-mining area that operated between 1920 and 1971. It was eventually replaced by a new power plant known as Compostilla I and later Compostilla II. The plant was eventually abandoned, although it remains an important relic of Spanish industrial heritage. The current museum, La fábrica de Luz - Museo de la Energía (Light Factory-Energy Museum), is focused on the important role coal played on the lives of residents from Ponferrada and El Bierzo. 

Opened in 2011, its restoration maintained many of the original elements of the plant and it is known for its luminosity. A large crane was used to lift the enormous components of the turbo-alternators into place. Coal arrived by train at the plant. The material then slid down a slope accumulating on a system of hoppers. A network of conveyor belts redirected the materials to the boiler warehouse where the combustion of the coal would heat the water provided from the river Sil. 

When steam reached the turbine hall, there was a control panel and a cabin that provided insulation for workers due to the high heat and noise generated by the turbines. The mechanical energy that was converted into electricity was then housed in four large transformers.

A visit to the museum allows visitors to follow this entire process. The trip ends in the oldest building on site that is now a restaurant.

The history of the museum was reconstructed with the help and contributions of more than 200 collaborators. Featured throughout the museum are recorded testimonies from former workers describing their work inside the factory.

Related Tags

Museums History & Culture Industrial Coal

Know Before You Go

The museum is situated on the outskirts of Ponferrada, province of León. Avenida de la Libertad, 46.  Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday: closed.

Community Contributors

Added By

Luis Morato

Published

September 25, 2020

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Sources
  • https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museo_de_la_Energ%C3%ADa
  • https://www.ponferrada.org/turismo/es/museos/fabrica-luz-museo-energia#locale=es_ES!nearLat=42.55790699999999!nearLon=-6.591001999999999!content=La%20F%C3%A1brica%20de%20Luz.%20Museo%20de%20la%20Energ%C3%ADa!nearDistance=40!minLat=42.55930786472812!minLon=-6.5889108180999765!maxLat=42.55614673641853!maxLon=-6.596957445144654!zoom=17
  • http://lafabricadeluz.org/en/museum/the-light-factory-museum-of-energy
  • https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museo_de_la_Energ%C3%ADa
La Fábrica de Luz (Light factory-Energy Museum)
46 Av. de la Libertad,
Ponferrada, 24400
Spain
42.557845, -6.591119
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

Saint Genadio Cave

Priaranza del Bierzo, Spain

miles away

Las Médulas

Yeres, Spain

miles away

Palacio Episcopal

Astorga, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Spain

Spain

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Places 748
Stories 37

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Saint Genadio Cave

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Spain

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Stories 37

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